Music

The Connecticut band played just minutes from Brown on the night of the shooting. Now their auction to benefit Brown students has already raised $16K in 24 hours.

By Lauren Daley

December 19, 2025 | 2:55 PM

2 minutes to read

On Saturday night in Providence, a striking dichotomy of joy and terror: Inside Amica Mutual Pavilion, Connecticut jam band Goose was performing “Goosemas,” their annual holiday show. Outside the venue, a city terrified.

Some two miles away, a mass shooting at Brown University left two dead, nine injured, a city in panic, a campus on lockdown, a manhunt in a pandemonium of strobing lights. 

On Thursday afternoon — just hours before the six-day manhunt would finally end in Salem, New Hampshire — Goose announced both a merchandise fundraiser and a weekend-long auction running through 6 p.m. Sunday night. All proceeds from both go to the Brown community and victims.

“We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred at Brown University this past weekend,” they stated in an email and on social media. “Our hearts are with the victims and their families, the Brown University students, and the greater Providence community that so graciously welcomed us into their home.”

As of this writing, the Goose & Western Sun Foundation Auction for Brown University Students has raised some $16,000 in less than 24 hours.

The online auction, featuring “several one-of-a-kind items from the weekend” — signed Goosemas setlists from both nights, the carnival-barker-like stage posters (“The Man who belonged to the Moon!”) — will benefit the Brown University Student Emergency Fund, which “provides immediate financial assistance to students impacted by crisis, displacement, or sudden loss,” per the band’s statement.  

“These funds help cover essential needs such as housing, food, travel, and other urgent expenses — ensuring students can remain safe, supported, and focused on their education during a difficult time,” they stated.

You can bid until 6 p.m. Sunday. Fans can also make a straight donation via the site. 

Meanwhile, a separate fundraiser. They’re also selling a special “Love Brown” variation of their concert tee “along with a limited amount of leftover event merchandise from the weekend.” All proceeds “from all merchandise sales will benefit the GoFundMes established to support the victims and their families,” the band states.

The “Goosemas Crystal Ball Tee” ($40) shows a smattering of iconography that matches the night’s 1890s madcap carnival vibe — a big top, clown face, test your strength game, a juggling monkey — with “Love!” “Brown!” popping up in the left corner near a circus performer. 

Many on social media appreciated the gesture:

“I was surprised they still had the show but I was kinda glad. Was wondering if you guys would make a statement. Thank you for thinking of us!!!”

“Thank you for doing this … Since Saturday, it has continued to sink in the gravity of what was happening so close to us … while we were having the time of our lives, there were so many people scared and terrified.”

“Thank you guys for doing this. My wife and I were at the show while our Brown student son was in one of the classrooms. This means a lot to us!”

You can also donate to the funds directly here. Read more on the chaos of Goosemas, both good and bad, here. And more ways to donate here.

Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.

Lauren Daley

Lauren Daley is a longtime culture journalist. As a regular contributor to Boston.com, she interviews A-list musicians, actors, authors and other major artists.

Source